Vehicle spring



Sept. 2, 1930. R. w. DAVIS VEHICLE SPRING Filed Nov. '10. 192'! avwm wo'cz WWW 351 50 abtOWQ/td v 3 and claimed.

Patented Sept. 2, 1930 PATE OFFICE ROBERT W. DAVIS, 01 OZONE PARK, NEW YORK VEHICLE SPRING Application filed November 10, 1927. Serial No. 232,264.

Thisinvention relates to springs, and par ticularly to springs for use on vehicles.

The invention aims in general to provide an improvedspring adapted for use wherever g the well-known type of leaf spring is now used.

A novel feature or" the present structure resides in the fact that a cover is combined with the spring insuch a way that itnot only protects the main spring members, but also helps to carry the load'imposed on the spring.

. The structure of the spring includes separate tension and compression members held a fixed distance apart throughout their length, and the elastic. cover performs a further useful function. in preventing spreading of the main spring members.

The invention also covers an improved muff for binding together the ends of the spring members and for securing the end ot' the spring to a shackle;

vention will be very light and strong, and since the stresses onithe load carrying members are in one direction only and the spring is permanently sealed against attacking elements, the spring will have an exceedingly long useful life.

l/Vhile a preferred embodiment has been 0 disclosed for purposes of illustration, it

should be understood that various changes may be made'in the structure and arrange ment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter set forth In the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a spring constructed according. to the present invention.-

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the spring shown in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a section onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings more particu: larly, the spring structure comprises an upper leaf-like member 10, which in the arrangement disclosed is the tension member, and a lower leaf 11, which forms the compression member. These members are arranged with their ends in close proximity and their intermediate portions spaced a fixed distance l apart, and it is important that the main members l0 and 11 bekept at fixed distances apart throughout their length while being permitted to flex. To attain this end a flexible spacing means must be interposed between the members and 11, and in the embodi-- ment shown this spacer 12 is formed'of aluminumor other suitable material, and is of a shape to exactly fill the space between the main members. Slots 13 extend into the spacer from opposite sides, leaving narrow flexible necks let along the center line of the spacer, and as a result of this construction the spacer can freely flex with the spring'and acts to hold the tension and compression members at fixed distances apart.

In order to protect the springlfrom the ole structive action of moisture and other unfavorable agents, cover members 15 are placed over the spring from opposite ends. These covers are formed of any non-corrosive, elastic material capable" or carrying a A spring constructed accordlng to th1s1nreasonable load, such for example asiphosphorfbronze. These cover n1embers:clos'ely conform to the outershape ofthe spring-and help to hold the main parts of the spring together to form a unit.

The outer ends of the tension member 10 are bentunderto form hooks 16, and the endsof' the hooks l6 abut against the endsofthe com pression member 11, as will be clear from Fig. 2. -The adjacent ends oft-he tension and compression members must be firmly held against relative movement and must be bound in such a manner as towithstand the sheer resulting from the imposition of 'loads'on the spring. This efiectcan be produced by enclosing the end of the spring in'a-mufi' 17 as illustrated in the drawing. a i

The muff 17 islformed with a socketshaped to receive the end ofthe spring, and'is pret erably formed welded or seamless. In case the muff is made without seams-its body portion18 may be made from cylindrical stock by drilling a hole through a piece of suitable size and tlien.taperreaming the hole. The piece is then swaged to fit over the end of the spring inth e manner illustrated. The ear pieces'19 arethen securedto the sides ofbodyj 18 in any-suitable ma'nner, as by welding, and form means -for attaching the spring: to the vehicle by means of shackles. The muff is forced over the end of the spring, and pins 20 are passed through its lower side and through the end of the compression member 11, holding the mutt securely in place without cutting through the tension member.

The vehicle axle 21 is secured below the intermediate part of the spring by a clamp 22, which passes over and secures the inner ends of the cover members 15.

lVhen the spring is mounted on a vehicle in the manner illustrated, the weight of the vehicle tends to press the ends of the spring downward relative to the intermediate part or the spring, thereby placing the member 11 under compression and the member 10 under tension. The elasticity of the tension and compression members under the strains mentioned permits the ends of the spring to move vertically with relation to the intermediate part of the spring. The amount of movement of the end of the spring under a given load depends partly on the size of the spring members and partly on the distance between the members at the' intermediate portions. This latter distance is shown greater in the drawings than it would normally be, the exaggeration having been made to clarify the principles of construction, but obviously these mechanical details can be altered to suit any particular set of circumstances. 7

Since the covers 15 closely conform to the outer surfaces of the spring, they too will help to carry the load imposed on the spring, the upper part of the cover being in tension and the lower part in compression.

I claim:

1. A spring comprising separate tension and compression members, and a cover extending around the spring and carrying part of the load imposed on the sprin 2. A spring comprising separate tension and compression members, and a metallic cover extending around the spring and carrying part of the load imposed on the sprin 3. A spring comprising a tension'member and a compression member, adjacent ends of the members being in proximity to each other and being held against relative movement, the members being held a fixed distance apart at another point, and a cover extending around part of the spring and carrying part of the load imposed on the spring.

4:. A spring comprising a tension member and a compression member, the members being in close proximity to each other at their ends, and being spaced apart at their intermediate portions, and a tapering cover member secured over each end of the spring, the cover members being designed to carry part of the load imposed on the spring.

5. A spring comprising a plurality of members, the members being in close proximity to each other at their ends, and being spaced apart at their intermediate portions, the adjacent ends of the members being held in fixed relation, and cover members secured over each end of the spring, the cover members being designed to carry part of the load imposed on the sprin 6. A sprin comprising a plurality of members, the members being in close proximity to each other at their ends, and being spaced apart at their intermediate portions, the adjacent ends of the members being held in fixed relation, spacing means for maintaining the members at proper distances apart throughout their entire length, and cover members secured over each end of the spring, the cover members being designed to carry part of the load imposed on the spring.

7. A spring comprising two load-carrying members, the members being. in close proximity to each other at their ends and being spaced apart at their intermediate portions, clamping means for holding the adjacent ends oi the members against relative movement, spacing means for maintaining the members at proper distances apart throughout their entire length, and cover members secured over each end of the spring, the cover nembers being designed to carry part of the load imposed on the spring.

8. A spring comprising two load-carrying members, the members being in close proximity to each other at their ends and being spaced apart at their intermediate portions, and cover members secured over each end of the spring, the cover members being designed to carry part of the load imposed on the spring and being secured against movement outward toward the ends of the sprin 9. A spring comprising two load-carrying members, the members being in close proximity to each other at their ends and being spaced apart at their intermediate portions, clamping means for holding the adjacent ends of the members against relative movement, spacing means for maintaining the members at proper distances apart throughout their entire length, and cover members secured over each end of the spring, the cover members being designed to carry part of the load imposed on the spring and being secured against movement outward toward the ends of the spring.

10. A spring comprising a tension member and a compression member, the members being in close proximity at their ends and being spaced apart at their intermediate portions, and a tapering cover secured over each end of the spring, the cover members being secured against movement outward toward the ends of the spring.

11. A spring comprising a tension member and a compression member, the members being in close proximity at their ends and being spaced apart at their intermediate portions, and a tapering metallic cover secured over ROBERT W. DAVIS. 

